Chapter 62: Level 100 - (1)
One hour later.
The Eden Guild members and the Player Union’s Team 3 players all gathered at the first assembly point.
As expected, there were numerous injuries and casualties.
Since it was an impossible route to clear without taking any damage from the start, it wasn’t surprising.
Meanwhile, unlike the other players, Jo Jinho found it curious that Sanghyun’s clothes were exceptionally clean.
Except for a bit of blood and dust, they were in an incredibly neat state.
He spoke to Sanghyun.
“You managed to do it alone after all. I heard from the report that you helped Taejung with the 4-10 route.”
“Yes. I had some leeway, so I decided to assist. But in the end, all I did was land the final blow.”
“My team members said you finished off the Split cleanly. You’re too modest.”
“Well, that’s just how it happened.”
“Taejung returned to the rear for treatment. He’s the type to rush ahead without thinking...”
“I think making mistakes is understandable. The Split isn’t an easy monster to deal with.”
“Haha.”
Jo Jinho laughed.
There was something else he wanted to say, but he figured it wouldn’t be the best thing to say to Sanghyun.
‘If it wasn’t an easy monster, doesn’t that mean you’re even more amazing for handling it alone?’
That was what he really wanted to say.
The Split was troublesome enough to give both Jo Jinho and Shin Taeri a slight sense of crisis.
For two people over level 500, it was a monster that was naturally within their capability to defeat.
If a monster like that gave them even a little trouble, then Sanghyun, who wasn’t even level 100, should have felt the same—or worse. But he didn’t.
Jo Jinho recalled his own days at Sanghyun’s level.
Back then, what had he been like?
After being recruited by the Eden Guild, he only cleared high-level dungeons in teams with the guild’s full support.
Intentional last-hit allocations and expensive artifact rentals were common perks.
That was how both he and Shin Taeri had grown into who they were today. It was a capitalist-style growth method.
However, Sanghyun was building his future entirely on his own, without any privileges or support. Alone.
When Sanghyun silently looked toward Lee Sehwa from Player Union’s Team 3, Jo Jinho provided some information.
“She’s a player with the nickname ‘Crimson Blaze of Madness,’ Lee Sehwa. Her level should be in the mid-300s.”
‘That’s higher than I expected at this stage.’
Sanghyun nodded.
Mage players tend to have higher firepower than other classes of the same level until they reach level 500.
Their growth slows beyond that point, but before then, they tend to surge ahead.
“I’ve worked with her before. She’s a player who focuses entirely on offense. She’s quite intense.”
“Oh?”
Sanghyun’s curiosity was piqued.
He considered himself an offensive swordsman as well.
Of course, his skill set included defensive abilities, but he didn’t use them often.
There was a reason he focused so much on Psychedelic’s status effects—he enjoyed attacking.
Sanghyun looked at the vast plain stretching out to the north and asked,
“What was the name of that plain again?”
“The Plains of Rest. It’s the farthest north we’re allowed to advance in this subjugation battle.”
“Then would it be okay for me to move with Player Union’s Team 3 instead of acting alone this time?”
“Of course. SH Guild is an independent guild with the right to make its own choices. You don’t need to worry about it.”
Jo Jinho nodded.
He liked Sanghyun’s polite attitude. He didn’t act arrogant or dismiss others just because he was strong.
Now he understood why Kim Miso and Shin Taeri wanted to recruit Sanghyun into Eden Guild.
The closer you got to him, the more you realized how genuine he was. He lacked nothing.
“Then, I’ll head over there.”
“You’ve done a great job. You’ll be rewarded separately for helping Taejung and his team.”
“That’s really not necessary.”
“This is our guild’s policy. If we receive kindness, we always return it with a reward. And those who should be embarrassed will be made to feel that way.”
Jo Jinho spoke while looking toward the rear, where Taejung had already disappeared.
On the way to Team 3’s camp where Lee Sehwa was located after parting with Jo Jinho,
Sanghyun scanned the entire Plains of Rest in awe.
“This place is truly an experience farm.”
Under the moonlight, the sheer number of monsters was astonishing.
Old streetlights still in operation illuminated countless footprints of monsters.
‘Red Kangaroo. That thing’s basically an experience bag. It’s tricky to hunt, though.’
Several monsters famous for giving good experience points were visible.
Most players wouldn’t know about this yet. It was something that would only be discovered through repeated research and exploration in the future.
If things went well, he calculated that he might be able to reach level 100 during this subjugation battle.
That would allow him to use the level 100 privilege of skill enhancement, making it a huge opportunity.
Drip. Drizzle. Drip-drip.
The rain that had started ten minutes ago fluctuated between heavy and light.
At this level, it was perfect for cooling the battlefield’s heat.
However, moving across the mixed terrain of unpaved roads and asphalt would be slightly troublesome.
At that moment, Lee Sehwa, who immediately recognized Sanghyun approaching her, greeted him warmly.
“Aren’t you Shin Sanghyun?”
“Hello, nice to meet you.”
“What brings you here?”
“I was wondering if you’d be interested in working together.”
Sanghyun made a straightforward proposal. To some, it could have sounded rude.
After all, it was an unannounced suggestion. Plus, Sanghyun’s level was much lower than hers.
Some old-fashioned players who cared too much about levels and positions might have taken issue with his words.
“Aren’t you working with the Eden Guild?”
“No. I only traveled with them to the field. I cleared the 4-9 route alone.”
“What? You cleared that route by yourself?”
Since she had no reason to check the Eden Guild’s roster, this was the first time Lee Sehwa heard about it.
Of course, she had also cleared a route alone.
But that was because she had the skills to do so. Level 353 was no joke.
Yet, the fact that Sanghyun had swept through a route alone was unexpected.
There was no reason for him to lie. Eden Guild could confirm it in seconds.
‘Lee Sehwa specializes in wide-area fire skills. If I bunch them up properly, she can wipe them all out in one go.’
Sanghyun’s goal was clear.
Two highly aggressive players focusing on AoE and single-target attacks respectively.
A perfect combination.
“Hmm, I don’t see any problem with that. But I’d like to hear a little self-introduction from you first. Haha.”
Lee Sehwa's lips curled up.
Sanghyun decided to go straight as he wanted. After all, it was only natural to appeal when asked to do so.
Saying something like he had admired her for a long time or wanted to match their moves once was too obvious.
"I have a skill that can reset the cooldown time. It's only once a day, but it's definitely useful."
"What?"
As expected, Lee Sehwa reacted. It was certainly a skill hard to believe at face value.
Ultimate skills are treated as such because they can barely be used once in a crisis situation.
But if they could be reset and used again? From that point on, it would truly be broken.
"A complete reset. Not leaving even a second of cooldown. It's a skill reset."
"Even buffer players rarely have such a skill."
"What do you think? Is this enough?"
"I'm intrigued."
Lee Sehwa smacked her lips.
As a magician player, she had many skills with long cooldown times due to her class traits.
That’s why her artifacts were also focused mainly on reducing cooldown times.
"I can assure you that I will never be a burden. You don’t need to protect or help me."
"You said it yourself?"
"I don’t take back my words."
"Alright. Then let’s go in with a bang."
Sanghyun's straightforwardness worked.
Until they came to the Unique Field, these two players had no contact, but now they formed a team.
30 minutes later.
The three teams of players, the entire Eden Guild, and Sanghyun began advancing north.
The Eden Guild was advancing cautiously at a slow pace, putting effort into completely clearing the area.
"I'll set the stage."
As soon as the real battle began, the first one to charge forward was Sanghyun.
He was definitely confident.
What was the most important thing for a magician player who preferred explosive attacks?
It was setting up the stage so that magic skills could be cast effectively. For example, gathering monsters.
『Fragmented Illusion』
As soon as he started, Sanghyun created an illusion identical to himself.
'I can really share vision with it.'
It was as if he was seeing the situation through four eyes, his vision merging naturally for judgment.
Although it had no substance, Sanghyun's illusion, which had a definite 'form,' began luring the monsters.
『Small Flame』
Then, using the Small Flame skill, Sanghyun infused his Determination Greatsword with a crimson blaze.
Most of the monsters in this plain were weak to fire. There was no better place to use fire than here.
Krooo! Krook!
The monsters, recognizing Sanghyun's illusion, started drooling thickly and gathering one by one.
Moreover, Sanghyun kept a distance from the illusion while following behind, taunting the stragglers.
Using both his real body and his illusion, he was setting up a perfect baiting ground to gather the monsters in one place!
'A clone skill. A greatsword infused with fire attributes... This setup is much better than what I knew. Is he really a swordsman?'
Watching the situation, Lee Sehwa admired while tilting her head in doubt.
Clone-type skills were practically an exclusive specialty of assassin players.
And imbuing a weapon with a specific attribute's power was something that required quite a high level.
But Sanghyun handled both skills freely as if common sense didn’t apply to him.
'Is this really not his first time fighting like this?'
In the middle of the plains, the red kangaroos were gathering beautifully into a single point.
Sanghyun repeatedly attacked and withdrew, drawing them in even deeper.
At this rate, they wouldn’t need to use multiple magic skills—one spell could wipe out many red kangaroos in a single blow.
However, Sanghyun's position was too deep. Not only the monsters but also Sanghyun himself could be in danger.
"I’ll get out on my own!"
At that moment, Sanghyun shouted.
That statement also implied that he had calculated the range of the wide-area magic skill Lee Sehwa would use.
'Alright, I can’t hold back on this.'
Lee Sehwa prepared the Fire Blossom skill. A skill that made fireballs rain down like a storm within a 10-meter radius.
It was the perfect skill to annihilate the dozens of red kangaroos tightly gathered within the 10-meter range.
Finally, as the fiery cloud formed over the red kangaroo horde and flames began to pour down—
'Now I understand why he was so confident. '
Lee Sehwa realized it.
Just moments ago, Sanghyun had been surrounded by red kangaroos.
Papak! Pak! Pak!
With rapid consecutive backsteps, he swiftly retreated from the battlefield.
His movement was so elusive that even his afterimages were hard to chase.
Kuwaaa!
Then, a pillar of fire erupted.
The red kangaroos, packed tightly together, took the full brunt of the Fire Blossom's falling fireballs.
There was no way they could survive.
30 monsters, instantly killed!
The perfect mob hunt Lee Sehwa had always dreamed of was finally achieved for the first time—unexpectedly, with Sanghyun as her partner.